Westside

Police Statistics Show Decline in Crime

Mirroring trends in Los Angeles, crime in Santa Monica, Culver City and Beverly Hills decreased during the first six months of 1996 compared to a similar period in 1995, according to statistics released by the cities' police departments.

"This is the continuation of a trend we've had here," said Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr., where burglaries dropped 12%, assaults 9% and robberies 5%. "If this trend holds, crime will have dropped 35% over three years."

Culver City crime has declined each year except for one since statistics began being kept in 1980, including a record 14% drop in 1995, Lt. Ellis Smith said. In the first six months of 1996, assaults dropped 38%, burglaries 20% and robberies 17%.

In Beverly Hills, the declines were most pronounced in thefts, which fell 11% from 878 to 778, and stolen cars, down 17% from 92 to 76.